The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has honoured American basketball star Jaylen Brown with the Yoruba ancestral name Babatunde during the NBA player’s visit to Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Brown, who plays for the Boston Celtics, was received at the Ooni’s palace on Monday by the monarch, alongside traditional rulers and palace officials.
According to the Ooni’s Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal, the name Babatunde carries the meaning “the father has returned” or “the ancestor has returned.”
Ogunwusi described the name as a recognition of Brown’s ancestral connection to Yoruba heritage and formally welcomed him into that cultural identity.
The monarch told the basketball star that he would henceforth be known as Babatunde Jaylen Brown, expressing confidence that the name would bring him good fortune and strengthen his connection with his ancestral roots.
The naming ceremony also provided an opportunity for the Ooni to highlight the historical importance of Ile-Ife, which he described as a major centre of Yoruba civilisation and ancestral heritage.
Ogunwusi said centuries of slavery and forced migration had separated families and communities that shared common African ancestry, particularly between the continent and the diaspora.
He therefore encouraged people of African descent living outside Africa to visit places connected to their heritage and learn more about their history, culture and ancestral identity.
The Ooni said Brown’s visit to Ile-Ife offered him an opportunity to reconnect with his roots and gain a deeper understanding of the traditions and history preserved in the ancient Yoruba city.
He noted that the palace had preserved generations of royal lineage, ancestral history and cultural traditions, making Ile-Ife an important destination for people seeking to understand their African heritage.
The monarch further called for stronger cultural links between Africans on the continent and members of the African diaspora, saying such connections could promote greater appreciation of African identity and history.
Brown, in response, expressed appreciation to the Ooni for the reception and hospitality extended to him during the visit.
The Celtics star said the experience gave him an opportunity to learn more about his heritage and encouraged people of African descent to make efforts to visit their ancestral communities.
The visit adds to the growing cultural exchanges between Africa and the African diaspora, with Ile-Ife continuing to serve as a focal point for efforts to preserve and promote Yoruba history and identity.
